Local group aims to legalize marijuana in Texas

The debate is reaching an all time high in Lubbock. The Hub City NORML group is wanting to legalize marijuana by weeding out the skeptics. They want the old laws to go up in smoke.

For Colt Smith it's more than a t-shirt, but a belief and message.

"We hope to see people using cannabis responsibly, and not have to be in fear of handcuffs," he said.

Smith is Executive Director of Hub City NORML. It is a marijuana rights group, and is part of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws.

"Hub City NORML is the only chapter within a 350 mile radius," he said.

Marijuana rights advocates say it's time for a change and a repeal on prohibition.

Paul Bullock is a Hub City NORML member. He said, "We should stop incarcerating and punishing and rather put this on the health aspect rather than the judicial aspect of our laws."

"Roughly 75 percent are in favor of medical marijuana," Smith said. "For me, that is my biggest concern is that adequate medicine and can be placed in the hands of patients that need it."

For more than 30 years he's fought the drug war on the border. Now, Terry Nelson has turned a new leaf on legalizing marijuana.

"By legalizing cannabis you would arrest about 8,000 less of our citizens a year and put them in a cage for smoking a plant that causes no harm to anyone else," Nelson said.

Lubbock State Representative Charles Perry said in the past, legislation has been introduced to legalize marijuana, and has always failed. But, he doesn't expect to stop hearing about it.

"So the idea that we just make it legal and makes everybody feel responsible with it doesn't make sense to me, and what I see is an expansion of a market," Perry said.

The Hub City NORML group is bringing awareness by hosting a music fest and conference, which will feature several speakers and 17 bands at the Depot District O Bar.

"And five speakers providing ted-style talks about the future of cannabis law in Texas," Smith said. "They will talk about there areas of expertise in the drug war, and to talk about strategies on how we can change our thinking and change our laws in Texas."

The group doesn't plan to stop anytime soon, it's planning a 5-k and other awareness events

The Hub City NORML conference and music fest is going on Friday night and will continue Saturday night. For more information on the group and event click here.

if marijuana is legal in all 50 states, the law won't have too much time to waste on arresting people with marijuana!! it's a waste of time for any officer so if it's legal, the police won't have to waste time arresting potheads after all!! PLEASE LEGALIZE MARIJUANA IN THE STATE OF TEXAS AND THE REST OF THE 50 STATES!!

i think it's a good idea to legalize marijuana in texas as well as the other 50 states!! think about it, less crimes, less trouble and less violence!! so if u have a heart in you to make that agreement, everything in the streets will be safe!! give it a try!!

Said by Nelson "By legalizing cannabis you would arrest about 8,000 less of our citizens A YEAR!!!!!!!!! and put them in a cage for smoking a plant that causes no harm to anyone else.
PATIENTS NEED IT!!!
Lubbock State Representative Charles Perry said legislation has been introduced to legalize marijuana and fails BUT, YOU WONT EXPECT TO STOP HEARING ABOUT IT..
MOST IMPORTANTLY IT CAUSES LESS HARM THAN ALCOHOL AND TOBBACO.

Marijuana became illegal by the racist and corrupt agenda of Harry J. Anslinger, who was once quoted as saying: "Reefer makes Darkies think they are as good as white men". But to make it illegal, he had to lie to America and Congress, telling us that "Blacks and Mexicans smoke Reefer and then rape white women". Why did he scapegoat Marijuana? Because it was harder to go after other drugs like Heroine, Cocaine, Morphine and Opium. Marijuana was so plentiful- he could drive off the Highway and see fields of it growing wild. So he turned to 'Reefer' as a scapegoat, but to make it illegal, he had to cite Morality Laws to get around the constitution. Lying to the world that Marijuana causes you to commit murder and rape. And today, Marijuana smokers are still sentenced (in many states like my own) the same as murderers, rapists and pedophiles. Of all Marijuana users, 73% are white and none-violent drug offenders. Its the laws, that have remained unchanged, that turn innocent users into violent criminals. The FDA, DEA and DOJ go thru so much to suppress the truth; that Marijuana is impossible to Overdose on and has a lower health cost than Tobacco and Alcohol (Alcohol has an average health cost of $800, Tobacco has an average health cost of $1,800, and Marijuana has an average health cost of $20).

The "War on Marijuana" has been a complete and utter failure. It is the largest component of the broader yet equally unsuccessful "War on Drugs" that has cost our country over a trillion dollars. Instead of The United States wasting Billions of more dollars fighting a never ending "War on Marijuana", lets generate Billions of dollars and improve the deficit instead. It's a no brainer.
Those whom profit from our current prison for profit system will do and say anything to prevent marijuana legalization. They will also attempt to throw up as many obstacles, hurdles, and road blocks to marijuana legalization as they possibly can. These people have a vested interest in keeping marijuana illegal.
The Prohibition of Marijuana has also ruined the lives of many of our loved ones. In numbers greater than any other nation, our loved ones are being sent to prison and are being given permanent criminal.records, which ruin their chances of employment for the rest of their lives, and for what reason?
Marijuana is way safer, and healthier to consume than alcohol. Yet do we lock people up for choosing to drink?
Marijuana is the safest and healthiest recreational substance known to man.
Even The President of the United States himself has used marijuana. Has it hurt his chances at succeeding in life? If he had gotten caught by the police during his college years, he may have very well still been in jail today! Beyond that, he would then be fortunate to even be able to find a minimum wage job that would consider hiring him with a permanent criminal record. Let's end this hypocrisy now!
So-called "Addiction Specialists" and "Anti-Drug Organizations" earn their living off of prohibition and are panicking. Once marijuana is legalized, they will no longer be able to use that tired old argument that they have people whom actually seek out therapy because of a marijuana addiction. We all know this is a complete FARCE. The ONLY reason people go to therapy for marijuana is